This is the statement Henderson County Judge Brad Schneider has released on his Facebook page explaining why he has declared a State of Emergency which issued this morning directly following a special called Henderson County Fiscal Court meeting which was carried live on WSON radio:
“A state of emergency was declared for Henderson County today. The declaration is not intended to signal any new threats or more serious developments in the coronavirus outbreak in our community than there were before. It just gives Fiscal Court more flexibility in meeting together to discuss and make decisions on COVID-19 related issues. Under the declaration the court can meet as a quorum and address pressing emergency matters without the normal 24-hour notice to the public, as is usually required by law. Emergency meetings of the Fiscal Court are still open meetings, and media will be notified. Any emergency meetings will also be shown live on Facebook. Again, this emergency declaration does not mean the county thinks our current situation is about to become more dangerous or because we have information about COVID-19 that you do not. This is a technical measure meant simply to give Fiscal Court another option as we continue to work with state and federal authorities to help us all stay safe. Thank you.”
The exact wording of the declaration is as follows:
Executive Order 20-01
Declaration of State of Emergency
WHEREAS, On January 31, 2020, The United States Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar declared a public health emergency for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), beginning January 27, 2020 and on March 6, the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, declared a state of emergency in the Commonwealth of Kentucky due confirmed cases of COVID-19; and;
WHEREAS, Governor Beshear has implemented measures to slow the spread of COVID-19, including the closure of Kentucky’s schools and recommendations to cancel or postpone large group events and activities; and
WHEREAS, the planning and preparedness of state and local agencies for a COVID-19 public health emergency in Henderson County is a concern to all our citizens; and
WHEREAS, it is both appropriate and desirable to coordinate with federal, state and local agencies to attain the maximum effective response to the circumstances described herein;
Now , THEREFORE, I, Brad Schneider, Judge Executive of Henderson County, by authority vested in me by KRS Chapter39A.100(2), do hereby declare that a State of Emergency exists in Henderson County for the period 12:00 p.m. March 24, 2020 until rescinded and direct that;
1. The local Emergency Operations Plan shall be fully executed;
2. The Henderson County Emergency Management Director, Kenny Garrett shall direct The Henderson County Disaster & Emergency Services Group to provide such assistance as can be delivered from available resources and shall coordinate with Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, Kentucky Department of Public Health, Green River District Health Department;
3. All agencies of Henderson City and County shall cooperate to the fullest extent with The Henderson Office of Emergency Management and shall provide such assistance as may be required for response to this emergency.
4. Under this State of Emergency, as provided in KRS 39A.100 (2), the County Judge Executive can waive procedures and formalities otherwise required by the law pertaining to; a) performance of public work, b) entering into contracts, c) incurring obligations, d) employment of permanent and temporary workers, e) utilization of volunteer workers, f) rental of equipment, g) appropriation and h) expenditure of public funds.
Brad Schneider
County Judge/Executive
Henderson County
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